Impact-illuminating bullet.



T. G. JOHNSON.

IMPAUT ILLUMINATING BULLBT. APPLIOATION I'ILED OUT. 11, 1913;

Patented Feb. 24, 1914.

UNITED sfrnrns MM Mc- 'rrIoMAs cfJoHNsoN, on NEW HAVEN, coNNEcTIcUT,AssIeNon To WINcHEs'rEn REPEATING Anivrs co., or Nnwnnvnn, coNNEcTIcUfr,A conronATIoN;

i IMPCT-ILLUIVIINATING BULLET.

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Patented Feb. 24, 1914.

` Y i 7annimationmedeetoigerii1913. seria11vo.'7e4,5s2.

To all whom 't may concern: n

` Be it known that I, THOMAS C. JoHNsoN, a' citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at New Haven, in the county of New Haven www I andState of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement inImpact- VIlluininating Bullets; and I do hereby declare the following,when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and thecharacters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exactdescription ofthe same, and which said drawings constitute part of thisapplication, and represent, in-

Figure 1 a view in side elevation of a bullet constructed in accordancewith my invention. Fig. 2 a corresponding view with the nose of thebullet in section. Fig. 3 a

view partly inelevation, and partly in section of one of the modifiedforms which my improved bullet may assume.

My invention relates to an improvement in impact-illuminating bullets,the object being to produce a superior bullet of the characterdescribed.

With these ends in view, my invention consists in an impact-illuminatingbullet provided upon its nose With a superficially appliedpercussion-igniting flash-light composition having a protective andretaining envelop.

In carrying out my invention as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, I superficiallyapply a concentric, or substantially concentric, coating or thin crown 2of any approved percussionigniting flash-light composition to the noseof an ordinary round-nosed bullet 3, and superimpose upon the same, aprotective envelop et which not only prevents the composition from beingabraded, but also assists in retaining it in place upon the nose of thebullet and in making it less sensitive without sensibly impairing itseffect as an illuminating agency. Whatever the form of the nose of thebullet, the composition will be superficially applied to it in the sensethat the surfaces of the bullet will not be chambered or indented forthe reception of the percussion-ignitng flash-light coating 2. Thecomposition will-becompounded with reference to the effect to besecured, and may be one of a great number of percussion-ignitingcompounds flashing on im-` with a minimum amount of smoke. If desired,the compound may be adapted to detonate 'in addition to producing anillumination. The compound may be applied in a variety of ways, as, bydipping, or painting, orwiping the nose of the bullet with a compositionwhich, on hardening, will adhere to it. As shown, the coating 2 has theform of a thin concentric crown or cap relatively thick in the middleand tapering uniformly in all directions to a thin edge. The protectiveenvelop 4 is applied in any convenient manner over the flash-lightcomposition 2 preferably after the same has been allowed to dry andserves to bind it together, to render it less sensitive, and to preventits deterioration, as well as to protect it against abrasion and toassist in holding it in place. For the said protective envelop 45, I mayemploy collodion, glue or-any other material producing a thin, resistantenvelop.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a full-jacketed pointed bullet having asoft-metal core 5 and jacket 6, the extreme point of the jacket hav-.ing superficially applied to it a concentric crown 7 ofpercussion-igniting flash-light composition protected and held in placeby a cons-like protective and retaining envelop 8 of collodion, glue orother equivalent material. i

By applying the flash-light composition superficially to the surface ofthe nose of the bullet rather than introducing it into a chamber in thenose of the bullet, or into indentations in the nose of the bullet, thecomposition is entirely unobstructed in burning by the metal of thebullet, whereby its fullest illuminating effect is obtained. Byarranging the self-igniting charge upon the nose of the bullet inconcentric, or substantially concentric form, I secure a circular, orvirtually circular, field of illumination of which the point of impactis the center, whereby the greatest amount of information is furnishedto the user of the gun from which the bullet is fired and the mostpleasing effect secured.

I claim'z- As a new article of manufacture, an impact-illuminatingbullet having a charge of percussion-igniting flash-light compositionsuperficially applied directly upon its nose, and having a protectiveenvelop superimposed directly upon the flash-light composi- Q 1,oss,o27i ton for the protection thereof whereby upon specficaton in thepresence of two subthe impact of the bullet the composition is scribingwitnesses. ignted by percussion and a brilliant momentary lluminaton ofthe point of impaet THOMAS C' JOHNSON' 5 produced for the information ofthe user of Witnesses: j the gun from Which the bullet Was fired.FREDERIC C. EARLE,

In testimony whereof, I have signed this C. L. WEED.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressingthe Commissioner of I'atentl, Washington, LD. 0.

